marv's Blog

this morning when I get out of bed, Time-Warner Cable decides to tweak the local channels.  No Good Day in my office.  (anybody have telephone service through a cable company?  seems the cable signal goes out frequently).   I change to FoxNews channel and there is police chase in the north SFV Valley.   Martha MacCallum brings Dickert on the line and the audience gets the facts flawlessly.  yesterday I took a tour of the downtown Twin Towers jail with about fifty others including the County Mental Health Commission.  the emphasis of the presentation was the staff's identifying those inmates who are suffering mental illness and meeting their needs quickly upon check-in which often means providing meds.  LA County Sheriff Baca's office organized the tour.  The jail reminds me of a summer camp.  The inmates looked like nice guys. One of the others on the tour noticed the ethnic makeup was mostly black.  Dr. Fishman, who heads the jail's mental health team says most inmates are released after their first appearance in court (punishment being time served prior to their court date.)  Next door is a different facility known as Men's Central Jail.  Inmates are more dangerous are held in Men's Central.